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Show - 137 - "Yes, I know that Maddie has related everything because I was there listening. It was almost more than I could bear to hear her repeat the terrible events. Her voice broke as she spoke and was so soft that Penny could hardly hear her, but she continued. "No, Icannot think of anything else. It vas just as Maddie said." "Who was it that put these newspapers in the trunk. Claudine?" asked Penny. It . was Ma Mere and Mon Pere. At the last moments when they were leaving for France, they both came up here and put all the contents that you see there in the trunk. I dared not appear to them because I knew what Ma Mere had gone through with my death and the circumstances surrounding it, and the guilt that was beginning to obsess her. I feared my appearance would surely kill her. It was at that moment that I fully realized that my parents were suffering beyond measure for what they had done to Dirk and me and I forgave them for all time. "Well," said Penny hopefully, "At least I know what occurred on that fateful night and why you're haunting Gaven House. Why do you feel that you betrayed Dirk? He loved you so, and was taking you away to Mexico. You would never have to see Andre' again. Dirk loved you, couldn't you see this?" The expression on Claudine's face was one of anguish and she said. "When he held me in his arms as I lay dying I begged his forgiveness for what. I had done to him and he did not answer me. Everything within me was yearning for those words and they did not come." "Maddie told us that he was heart broken when you died." said Penny. "You must understand, Mamselle, all these terrible events happened because of me. If I had not betrayed Dirk by marrying Andre' , he would not have killed me, and if Dirk still loves me why hasn't he come back and told me? I have stayed here at Gaven House all these years waiting for him to return. I |